CA continues deliberations

Kathmandu, July 5: The Constituent Assembly (CA) continued deliberations on the proposal tabled before it, seeking permission to publish the first integrated draft of the new constitution in Nepal's gazette for people's feedbacks. 

Most of CA members putting their views over the proposal at a meeting of the CA today termed the outcome of the draft as a historic and positive move of political parties, underlining the need of amendments to some contents and terminologies mentioned in the draft. 

Nepali Congress (NC) Vice President and CA member Ramchandra Poudel said all should realise that the nation could not bear more than six provinces while federating it. The NC was clear that socialism was the best option to establishing democratic norms and values in the society, he said. 

The draft should have clear provisions regarding the rights of indigenous, Dalit, women, Madhesis and concept of inclusiveness and proportional representations in state mechanisms. 

Likewise, CPN (UML)'s Bharat Mohan Adhikari sought support from every walk of life to ensure the promulgation of the new constitution at the earliest. 

Also taking part in the deliberation, CA member Dhaniram Poudel said the present CA has owned up the achievements of previous CA and the roadmap for the new constitution should be drawn accordingly. 

Similarly, lawmaker Arju Rana complained that the draft could not ensure the right of getting citizenship through mother’s name. 

Jaydev Joshi of the CPN (United) pointed out the need of amending some points. 

Similarly, lawmaker Prem Bahadur Singh said that although the draft was progressive, some points mentioned in the draft should be amended. 

Stating that not following the order of the Supreme Court was against the republicanism and rule of law, NC lawmaker Amaresh Kumar Singh said that questions were raised regarding the new constitution. 

Protesting after standing from his seat at the beginning of the meeting, lawmaker of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Sarbendra Nath Sukla said that the act of reversing the issue of autonomous province accepted by the erstwhile CA would not be acceptable at any cost for his party. 

He said that the discussions regarding the draft were as meaningless and boycotted the CA meeting. 

It was said in the meeting that the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana Party and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party boycotted today's CA meeting. 

The CA meeting is still on. RSS